days in days out

I’m reporting to you directly from home because, once again, I’m home from camp. I haven’t seen Toby or any of my friends for over two weeks, and I’m miserable. If I have to watch Tank sleep through one more criminal minds marathon I’m going to chew the faces off of all his favorite men. Yeah, that’s right. I’ve spiraled down into a dark place and I’ve got the cabin fever.

I’m on meds again, and hoping to be back on all four paws by the weekend. On Saturday, camp is having a pet adoption event that I’m dying to go to, so lets all hope the meds work their magic and I can go. I’ve been asking for a little brother so that Tank and I can officially start our band, so I’m constantly shopping around. We’ve already decided his name will be scooter. It just fits in with the vibe of our group.

Aside from that I’ve got very little to report – just a lot of same toys, different day action around here with a few freedom walks sprinkled in.

My belly has been in a world of hurt the last few weeks, and I’ve been losing ALL of my hairs. Last night my Aunt Carrie Ann came over and rubbed me so I could sleep.

The moment of truth came this morning, and I finally went to the vet, so I’ll just cut to the chase. I’ve got some good news, some bad news, and some even worse news.

this was my cruise director. she was pretty cool.

The good news is that I’m going to live. Yep, there appears to be a cure for my most deadly of illnesses.

The bad news is that I’ve got a GI infection AND the Mange. Don’t even ask me how they tested my GI health, it was a violation like nothing I’ve ever known before. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to talk about it, and I’m certain I’m going to have nightmares.

I’m on new meds and will hopefully be on the mend soon. I’m just hoping my hairs grow back so I don’t have to keep wearing all those stupid sweaters.

To all of you two-leggers out there paying money to have all the good warm hair lasered from your body, SHAME! I wish Mange on ALL YOUR HOUSES!

The even worse news is that I’m off from camp for a few weeks until I get healthy again. I’m basically on forced house arrest for a crime I didn’t commit and it’s absolute bull. Needless to say, I’m not taking this news very well, but I am trying my best to be optimistic.

To any pups out there reading this post, keep washing your paws (WITH SOAP) and keep your filthy little mouths out of my water bowl. Don’t even think about sniffing my ladyparts. I don’t need any unwashed miscreants giving me the bark or any other sniffingly transmitted diseases.

I’ve been pretty lax on my posting since I’ve been sick, but I’m planning to catch up in the next few weeks now that I’ve got some time to kill. I’m also hoping to catch up on my correspondence, watch some backlogged criminal minds on the DVR and really dig in to my chess game. I think it’s critical that I keep myself busy or I might go insane. I might campaign for a wii – I’ve been hearing very good things about the yoga on that thing, and I could use some zen in my life.

look in to my eyes. can you see what i’m thinking? no reason, just curious.

I turn 1 years old on Friday. It’s a pretty big number: 1. Truly, I don’t even know where these last 12 months have gone.

As I stand here looking out at what I can only assume is the last 95% of my life, I feel a renewed sense of responsibility not to waste another day. I mean, it would be so easy to just live day in, and day out, chewing bones and playing with my friends at camp, but I want my life to mean something. I want my legacy to be greater than just my run for class president and my impending olympic gold medal (specific sport, yet to be determined).

Today after camp I was pretty spent so instead of training (it’s wicked windy out) I got on my iPad to google things while my Aunt Ellen was on, and I came across this video. I think this kid is my long lost brother.

Seriously, it’s like he took the words right out of my mouth. I mean, that was half of my campaign platform for camp, just minus the dancing. I don’t have the dancing down yet, but I have a darn fine swaggle (swagger + waggle) when I walk, and you better believe I use it to my advantage.

So, this birthday, this monumental anniversary of [my] birth, I will be taking paws (pause?) from my regularly scheduled life to reflect on what it is that makes me come alive and what path I’m going to take. Also, I’m thinking about watching Space Jam.

In lieu of gifts, please do the same. And when you’re done watching Space Jam, think about how you’re going to be a leader, and a boss.

Dudes, last week it snow stormed here. Well, sort of. It wasn’t exactly a ‘storm,’ but there was snow and I LOVED it.

I usually don’t like to get my paws wet, but I got a case of the curiosities, so I ventured out for a little expedition.

I sniffed it.

I tasted it.

and I stopped off for a chilled brewski (or twoski…)

I had so much fun playing in the powder, but I had left my coat in my camp bag so I only lasted about 10 minutes out in the tundra.

Tank, on the other hand, showed up to pick me up from camp in a sexy new parka, totally ready for the frigid temps.

I’m a model you know what I mean. And I do my little turn on the catwalk. On the catwalk.

I’m too sexy for my hat, too sexy for my hat. What do you think about that?

I shake my little touche on the catwalk.

All my friends at camp loved T’s outfit, and couldn’t stop talking about how sweetly the fur (fake fur people!) framed his face. I was secretly a little mad because I wore my christmas sweater AND my coat to camp the same day, and NO one said anything to me about it. I don’t even know why I try sometimes.

Regardless, this week I learned about snow and it was cool, but I got my fill. I’m ready to move to a warmer climate. I’m thinking California, but I mean, I wouldn’t rule out another temperate climate. I mean let’s be real, for the right price, I’d go anywhere, snow boots and all.

We had a big weekend after the snow, but I’ll have to circle back on that tomorrow because camp left me completely zonked today.

To add insult to injury, I think my mom is skimping on my lunch snacks. Seriously, around 3pm I hit this hypoglycemic low that feels like a brick wall and it takes everything out of me. I can’t even tell you the last time I had enough juice left in me to do a training run through. My body is too tired to think about fitness.

The worst part is that when I get tired I get super cranky, and have a little fuzzy brain. Guys I can’t help it, I’m just exhausted, but my mom told me that isn’t an excuse and I got two, count them TWO, timeouts this week.

My first day off from camp was Tuesday and everything was fine until the afternoon when I had a fuzzy brain episode. I haven’t been going in my iron prison much lately and have been enjoying a much longer leash of trust around the house, you know, within reason. When mom came home for lunch everything was super kosher and I was in a deep REM cycle.

look. I sleep like an angel.

You should have seen her, she was so proud of me. But she went back to work, the sleep wore off, and this happened.

it’s just a shoelace people.

Yeah, so I did that. But, I mean, really, I thought I was doing her a favor. Who wears converses anymore? I mean that was so spring 2012 and/or 7th grade. I haven’t seen her wear them in months and she keeps talking about cleaning out her closet, so I just gave her a little push she needed.

You know how she thanked me? With a time out. Geez, it’s like nobody appreciates unsolicited help anymore.

I was back at camp wednesday for another full day, which was a nice break from all of the ‘rules’ that come with home based freedom. I tried to tell Toby about it, but he’s at camp all the days and just doesn’t understand my struggles. Plus, he’s like the worst listener ever and is always yapping about himself. So rude, sometimes I just think we should see other pups and just be friends.

Thursday came and went with minimal drama which really helped me out, but I just couldn’t seem to make it the full cycle and on Friday morning I got my longest timeout in recent memory.

Listen, on the mornings I go to camp I like to get up a little early to do all of my business, and then I typically just play by myself until it’s time to go. Yesterday I was right on track, until I found a delicacy on the coffee table. My mom only uses one type of pen (pilot vball extra fine) and NEVER lets me play with them. I’m not good at being told that I can’t have something, so when I saw it left unguarded something else took over my body and I grabbed it before anyone could see. I took it right under the bed in my favorite secret hiding place, and I tore that thing up. The problem, folks, is that it’s filled with juicy black goodness and our carpets are white. I didn’t really plan this crime well.

I tried to hide the evidence, but I just got more ink all over my paws and everywhere I ran to hide I left a guilty path that led right to me.

uh, anyone looking for a bug? I think i’m up for adoption.

The only upside is that I think it really put the whole ‘shoe lace’ ordeal in perspective. I spent 45 minutes in my iron prison while my mess was cleaned up, and I honestly think I almost had my camp privileges taken away, but lets be honest, that wouldn’t wouldn’t have really solved anything.

It has just been a long week, so I’m pretty excited to lay low this weekend and try to get back on my best behavior. I have a lot of backlogged reading to do on my iPad, and Tank and I are have plans for a weekend sleepover, just us two, to revamp our training schedule and get on track for 2013. You know, once we’re done our recovery naps. I’m not sure what he did all week, but he sure is sleepy too.

I don’t even remember this picture being taken.

I’ll be in touch with our developments – they should be good. With Lance (Armstrong) falling from grace, and all of those two legged dopers out of the sport, I think I might have a real chance at winning the tour.

Guess what. It happened. SANTA WAS HERE!!! I tried to stay up to see him but I spent the day spreading holiday cheer all over camp yesterday and was just a little too zonked. Could have also been the Bugnog I concocted after dinner, but either way, I rested my eyes for just a second and missed the whole thing.

I’m awake. Just resting my eyes.

When I realized it was morning time I was so excited I ran all over the house and woke everyone up with sweet Christmas kisses and barks of joy. Some scrooges don’t love morning ear kisses, but my tongue is like the velvets, so I think they just don’t know what they’ve been missing. I love the holidays.

My grandparents and big brother Tate R. Tot gave me my new most favoritest toy – a green barn with lamb babies! I’m pretty much just a manger (I could make one) and a few wise men away from my own Bugtivity scene. I’m a little busy today though so that might have to be a project for next year.

A Barn filled with lamb babies? YES, please!

Lately I’ve been thinking that I would probably be an exceptional fire fighter, so this was the perfect gift for me. I’ve been practicing my fire rescue strategies and tactics all morning. Of course I’m starting with the most dangerous scenario and I’ve been timing myself on how quickly I can get all three of the lamb babies out of the ‘burning’ barn.

Assessing the potential risks.

you’ve been saved lambie!

All in all I’ve conducted over 20 successful rescue missions, and only once did I leave a lamb baby inside the barn (only one) and I’ve only chewed off 4 of their ears. I’d say the collateral damage was minimal. I’m going to get this on video and add it to my rescue resume.

It was a lot of work conducting all those rescues on my own, and after the last one my adrenaline just crashed and I collapsed in exhaustion.

Imma need chapstick later.

I spent the rest of the morning playing the ‘Christmas winner’ game, which essentially just consists of me putting all my new babies in my bed and declaring myself the winner of Christmas. It can be slow at times, but by the end the excitement of being declared winner makes it totally worth it.

oh. hai.

We’re just a few hours out from dinner which is going to be epic I’m sure, so I’m going to go have a little date with OnDemand and rest up.

But before I go, I want to wish you all safe and happy Christmas days. Go out and make yourself a Christmas winner!

I’m almost to embarrassed to write this post, but I’m committed to being honest in our relationship with you as the reader and me as the writer, and I will hold to my word.

This week has been very difficult for me. I got the runs. And I got them bad.

In the early hours of monday morning I heard a rumbling in my tummy, and it happened. It all happened, at once. I was so ashamed but I was overcome with urgency and shame all at once and while I always try to stay proud and keep my chin up – I couldn’t make it happen this time. I curled up in the corner and cried. Yep, I admit it. I took to tears, and I’ll never forget it.

I was found that way in the morning when Tank came to get my for breakfast. By that time my belly was being much better and I thought that I was approaching my own freedom from the experience, but I was wrong.

Not only did I not get any breakfast, but I also was kept home from camp and forced to take a bath. It was horrible. I was so cold, and the shivering from the shower just brought my right back to the dark hours in the corner of my crate.

I’ve had a few dark days, I’m not going to lie. I fell into a deep depression, and was consumed by my personal shame.

dont’ look at me.

There were moments when I couldn’t even get out of bed. I didn’t think I would ever feel happiness again. My favorite babies lay next to me, neglected and lifeless.

there is no joy.

Tank tried to console me, but he was still living a rich life full of food, treats, and doing exactly what he loves the most: napping. It’s cool that he likes it, but it’s not for me. I need more action.

I finally went back to camp Tuesday to give it a shot and then took another day off on Wednesday to recover. I tried to lay low on the couch and just chill with my roomies so I could have full energy for camp again today.

yo.

It paid off. Camp was ah-mazinnnng! Not only did I get to see Toby, but I got to stay in during nap and be Santa’s little helper, putting together holiday treats for all the other campers.

willpower is no friend of mine.

I’m an awesome helper, but my recent days of starvation made me it really difficult not to just bury my face in the treat bowl and eat my way out. I mean, come on people, this is like worse than the Hunger Games.

I was pretty beat when I got home tonight but I am finally back to my own food (no more chicken + rice for this girl). I’m hitting the sack early tonight because I’m pulling back to back days at camp so I need to make sure I’m recharged.